Maresca: Cole Palmer Can Be Chelsea's Mohamed Salah

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca believes Cole Palmer has the potential to make a similar impact as Mohamed Salah has at Liverpool.

Enzo Maresca, Chelsea's coach, has high praise for young midfielder Cole Palmer, believing he can make a similar impact for the Blues as Mohamed Salah has for Liverpool. Maresca's comments come after Palmer's impressive display in Chelsea's 3-1 win over Wolves on Monday, which ended the team's five-match winless run. Palmer's composure on the pitch belied his 22 years, and Maresca is excited about his potential.

Maresca highlighted Palmer's improvement, not just in terms of goals and assists, but also in his overall game. “He (Palmer) is improving a lot but not just in terms of numbers of goals and assists,” Maresca said. He specifically praised Palmer's performance in the second half against Wolves, saying it was one of the best moments since he arrived at the club. “The second half against Wolves for me was one of the best moments since I arrived here.”

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Maresca emphasized Palmer's growing personality on the pitch, particularly in difficult moments. “He was showing personality, he was asking for the ball in any moment that the team needed it,” Maresca said. He drew comparisons with top players like Salah and Martin Odegaard, who take charge and demand the ball when their teams need it. “Liverpool when they have some (difficult) moment, Salah is asking for the ball. Arsenal when they have some problem, (Martin) Odegaard is asking for the ball.”

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Maresca believes that Palmer is developing this kind of personality and leadership on the pitch. “We need that kind of player when we are in some difficult moment, who is turning to his team-mates and saying 'give me the ball, don't worry, I will be in charge',” Maresca said. He was impressed with Palmer's performance against Wolves, saying, “This kind of personality that we have to show in a difficult moment. Against Wolves in the second half he was top.”